SUSAN D. WIGENTON, District Judge.
Before the Court is Plaintiff Elizabeth Vasquez's ("Plaintiff" or "Vasquez") appeal of the final administrative decision of the Commissioner of Social Security ("Commissioner") that she is not disabled under sections 216(i), 223(d), and 1614(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (the "Act"). This appeal is decided without oral argument pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 78. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). For the reasons set forth below, this Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner's decision.
On November 28, 2006, Plaintiff applied for Disability Insurance Benefits ("DIB") and Supplemental Security Income ("SSI"), both of which were denied initially and upon reconsideration. (R. 163-64, 214-24). Plaintiff's subsequent request for a hearing before an administrative law judge ("ALJ") was granted, and a hearing was held before ALJ Leonard Olarsch ("ALJ Olarsch") on November 4, 2009. (R. 224). Plaintiff appeared and testified at the hearing. (R. 41-70). On December 8, 2009, ALJ Olarsch issued a decision finding Plaintiff ineligible for disability benefits as she could perform the full range of sedentary work. (R. 186-202). Plaintiff appealed the decision. (R. 261.) On September 22, 2010, the Appeals Council remanded the matter to ALJ Olarsch for a new hearing in order to expand the evidentiary record, give further consideration to Plaintiff's residual functional capacity ("RFC"), and obtain testimony from a vocational expert. (R. 183-185). Following a second hearing on January 5, 2011, ALJ Olarsch again rejected Plaintiff's application after deeming Plaintiff capable of performing sedentary work in low-stress, simple, and repetitive jobs. (R. 186-202). Plaintiff appealed this decision to the Appeals Council on March 22, 2011. (R. 204, 306-15). The Appeals Council remanded the matter to ALJ Hilton Miller ("ALJ Miller") on September 26, 2012. (R. 203-207). On February 22, 2013, after conducting a third hearing on this matter, ALJ Miller denied Plaintiff's application. (R. 10-34). On July 26, 2013, the Appeals Council declined to review ALJ Miller's decision, rendering the decision final. (R. 1-5). Plaintiff now seeks a reversal of the decision or, in the alternative, a remand and order for a new hearing.
Plaintiff was forty-five years old at the time the instant appeal was filed in 2013.
The record reflects that Plaintiff was examined by more than ten medical doctors and healthcare practitioners in relation to her disability claim. (R. 13-28). In addition, Plaintiff testified about her health during two hearings before ALJ Olarsch and during a third hearing before ALJ Miller. (R. 41-70, 71-104, 105-162). The following is a brief summary of the medical evidence:
Plaintiff alleges that she has been unable to work due to physical and psychiatric ailments. (R. 16). Specifically, she contends that she has symptoms related to a herniated disc, scoliosis, kidney problems, intestinal problems, hypertension, and depression.
Regarding her physical impairments, Plaintiff had a slip and fall accident in 2000 and injured her lower back, for which she was prescribed Darvocet/Percocet as needed, physical therapy, and injections. (R. 193). On August 14, 2002, Howard Hirsch, M.D. ("Dr. Hirsch"), concluded from Plaintiff's magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI") that Plaintiff had some degenerative disc changes and minimal annulus bulges but that there was no evidence of disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or nerve root impingement. (R. 508).
On June 21, 2004, an ultrasound report indicated that Plaintiff was status post cholecystectomy. (R. 501).
On July 19, 2007, Plaintiff saw Dr. Wayne Seigel ("Dr. Seigel"), a gastroenterologist, for complaints of abdominal pain.
On May 12, 2008, Dr. Hongya Song, M.D. ("Dr. Song"), diagnosed Plaintiff with a herniated disc, scoliosis, hypertension, hepatitis C, and kidney stones. (R. 550-51).
On July 16, 2012, Dr. Robert A. Fogari, M.D., PA ("Dr. Fogari"), noted that Plaintiff weighed 223 pounds and was five feet and three inches tall. (R. 582).
Regarding her mental impairments, on May 19, 2007, at the request of the Division of Disability Determination Services ("DDS"), Plaintiff saw Dr. Alec Roy ("Dr. Roy") for a mental status evaluation. (R. 174). Plaintiff reported that she had been prescribed Paxil by her primary care physician for depression and anxiety and that she had been taking Paxil sporadically for the last three to four years. (R. 517). Though she was not seeing a psychiatrist at the time, she had seen a psychiatrist at age 21 when she was twice hospitalized for attempted suicide.
On December 18, 2012, Dr. A.J. Candela, Ph.D. ("Dr. Candela") evaluated Plaintiff. (R. 645-47). Dr. Candela diagnosed Plaintiff with posttraumatic stress disorder and depression and gave Plaintiff a GAF score of 50. (R. 647).
At the first hearing on November 4, 2009, Plaintiff testified that she weighed 195 pounds. (R. 174). She testified that she lost weight after taking medication for hepatitis C, which Plaintiff was diagnosed with in 2008.
At Plaintiff's second hearing on January 5, 2011, Plaintiff asked for a closed period of disability from November 28, 2006, to November 2, 2009. (R. 189). Plaintiff testified that her treatment for hepatitis C lasted a year and that during that time she felt tired, drained, chilled, and in pain (R. 194). During that time, Plaintiff's children often drove her to the doctor; Plaintiff drove herself only three times.
Plaintiff then had a third hearing on January 15, 2013—this time before ALJ Miller. (R. 105-62). Plaintiff was forty-four years old at the time of the hearing. (R. 114). Plaintiff testified that she was supposed to get interferon treatment again for her hepatitis C the previous month but that it was delayed due to her anemia. (R. 111). Plaintiff testified that her lower back would hurt often, which prevented her from performing tasks while sitting down and from doing laundry. (R. 115). Plaintiff also said that she occasionally lost her balance and fell. (R. 115-16) Plaintiff stated that her husband was supporting her financially but that he also had hepatitis and was on disability.
Finally, Plaintiff testified that she was a stay-at-home mother from 1990 to 1995 while her three children were young. (R. 131-33). At the end of the hearing, ALJ Miller then posed several hypotheticals to a vocational expert to determine whether there existed work in the national and local economies that plaintiff was capable of performing. (R. 133-36, 150-51, 155-56). The vocational expert opined that there existed several representative jobs, such as a telephonic position, a lens inserter, an order clerk, and a laminator, in the national and local economies that a person with limitations similar to Plaintiff's could perform. (R. 134-35, 151, 155-56).
In Social Security appeals, this Court has plenary review of the legal issues decided by the Commissioner.
Substantial evidence is "less than a preponderance of the evidence, but `more than a mere scintilla'; it is `such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.'"
In considering an appeal from a denial of benefits, remand is appropriate "`where relevant, probative and available evidence was not explicitly weighed in arriving at a decision on the plaintiff's claim for disability benefits.'"
A claimant's eligibility for social security benefits is governed by 42 U.S.C. § 1382. An individual will be considered disabled under the Act if the claimant is unable "to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment" lasting continuously for at least twelve months. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). The impairment must be severe enough to render the individual "not only unable to do his previous work but [unable], considering his age, education, and work experience, [to] engage in any kind of substantial gainful work which exists in the national economy." 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(2)(A). A claimant must show that the "medical signs and findings" related to his or her ailment have been "established by medically acceptable clinical or laboratory diagnostic techniques, which show the existence of a medical impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which could reasonably be expected to produce the pain or other symptoms alleged." 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(5)(A).
To make a disability determination, the ALJ follows a five-step sequential analysis. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a), 416.920(a);
Step one requires the ALJ to determine whether the claimant is engaging in substantial gainful activity ("SGA"). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(i), 416.920(a)(4)(i). SGA is defined as work that "[i]nvolves doing significant and productive physical or mental duties . . . for pay or profit." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1510, 416.910. If the claimant engages in SGA, the claimant is not disabled for purposes of receiving social security benefits regardless of the severity of the claimant's impairments. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(i), 416.920(a)(4)(i). If the individual is not engaging in SGA, the ALJ proceeds to step two.
Under step two, the ALJ determines whether the claimant suffers from a severe impairment or combination of impairments that meets the duration requirement found in Sections 404.1509 and 416.909. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). An impairment or a combination of impairments is not severe when medical and other evidence establishes only a slight abnormality or combination of abnormalities that would have a minimal effect on an individual's ability to work. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1521, 416.921; SSR 85-28, 96-3p, 96-4p. An impairment or a combination of impairments is severe when it significantly limits the claimant's "physical or mental ability to do basic work activities." 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(c), 416.920(c). If a severe impairment or combination of impairments is not found, the claimant is not disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(ii), 416.920(a)(4)(ii). If the ALJ finds a severe impairment or combination of impairments, the ALJ then proceeds to step three.
Under step three, the ALJ determines whether the claimant's impairment or combination of impairments is equal to, or exceeds, one of those included in the Listing of Impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iii), 416.920(a)(4)(iii). If an impairment or combination of impairments meets the statutory criteria of a listed impairment as well as the duration requirement, the claimant is disabled and entitled to benefits. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(d), 416.920(d). If, however, the claimant's impairment or combination of impairments does not meet the severity of the listed impairment, or if the duration is insufficient, the ALJ proceeds to the next step.
Before undergoing the analysis in step four, the ALJ must determine the claimant's residual functional capacity ("RFC"). 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a), 404.1520(e), 416.920(a), 416.920(e). An individual's RFC is the individual's ability to do physical and mental work activities on a sustained basis despite limitations from his or her impairments. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1545, 416.945. The ALJ considers all impairments in this analysis, not just those deemed to be severe. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1545(a)(2), 416.945(a)(2); SSR 96-8p. After determining a claimant's RFC, step four then requires the ALJ to determine whether the claimant has the RFC to perform the requirements of his or her past relevant work. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(e)-(f), 416.920(e)-(f). If the claimant is able to perform his or her past relevant work, he or she will not be found disabled under the Act. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(iv), 404.1520(f), 416.920(a)(4)(iv), 416.920(f). If the claimant is unable to resume his or her past work, the disability evaluation proceeds to the fifth and final step.
At step five, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant is able to do any other work, considering his or her RFC, age, education, and work experience. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)(4)(v), 416.920(a)(4)(v). Unlike in the first four steps of the analysis where the claimant bears the burden of persuasion, the burden shifts to the ALJ at step five to determine whether the claimant is capable of performing an alternative SGA present in the national economy. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(g)(1) (citing 404.1560(c)), 416.920(g)(1) (citing 416.960(c));
At step one of the disability analysis, ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff had not engaged in SGA since November 28, 2006, the alleged onset date of Plaintiff's disability. (R. 15).
At step two, ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff suffered from the following severe impairments: "degenerative disc disease with herniated nucleus pulposus and scoliosis, hepatitis C, anemia, obesity, asthma with asthmatic bronchitis, history of kidney stones with lithotripsy procedure, posttraumatic stress disorder (anxiety), and depression."
ALJ Miller also properly found that Plaintiff's hypertension was not a severe impairment since there was no evidence that Plaintiff had undergone any treatment for her hypertension or that Plaintiff's hypertension more than minimally limited her functioning.
At step three, ALJ Miller properly determined that Plaintiff's impairments did not equal or exceed the impairments included in the Listing of Impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.
Second, ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff's asthmatic symptoms did not meet or exceed the severity requirements set forth in listing 3.00. (R. 17). Listing 3.03 requires a claimant to have either chronic asthmatic bronchitis or asthmatic attacks that require physician intervention at least once every two months or at least six times a year. 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404 Subpt. P, App. 1. In contrast to the requirements in listing 3.03, the record includes no objective evidence of Plaintiff having asthmatic attacks or having chronic asthmatic bronchitis. (R. 17).
Third, the Listing of Impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 includes no listings for anemia, a history of kidney stones with lithotripsy procedure, hepatitis C, or obesity. 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404 Subpt. P, App. 1. ALJ Miller, however, considered the effects of these impairments on each body system and properly found that they were not of a listing-level severity. (R. 17-18).
Fourth, ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff's mental impairments, considered singly and in combination, did not meet or exceed the impairments included in listings 12.04 and 12.06 of the Listing of Impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (R. 18). ALJ Miller properly found that the paragraph B requirements were not satisfied.
For the above reasons, ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff's impairments did not equal or exceed the impairments in the Listing of Impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1.
Before undergoing a step-four analysis, ALJ Miller determined Plaintiff's RFC. (R. 19-20). ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff has the RFC to perform sedentary work as defined in 20 C.F.R. 404.1567(a) and 416.967(a). (R. 19). After an extensive review of the record, ALJ Miller found, specifically, that:
(R. 19-20). In making this determination, ALJ Miller considered both objective medical evidence and other evidence, based on the requirements of 20 C.F.R. 404.1529 and 416.929 and Social Security Rulings ("SSRs") 96-4p and 96-7p. (R. 20). In support of his finding, ALJ Miller cited extensively to the testimony of Plaintiff, to a third-party function report that Plaintiff's son completed, and to the treatment and evaluative records of Dr. Fogari, Dr. Siegel, Carmelo Pingol, M.D., Wayne Tillman, Ph.D., Dr. Candela, Dr. Roy, Nikolaos Galakos, M.D., Dr. Potashnik, Dr. Song, and Dr. Hoffman. (R. 20-27). In light of the substantial evidence presented by ALJ Miller, this Court finds that ALJ Miller properly determined Plaintiff's RFC.
At step four, ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff cannot perform her past relevant work. (R. 27). ALJ Miller cited to the vocational expert's testimony that Plaintiff cannot perform the work of a cashier, stock checker, or a babysitter.
Lastly, at step five, ALJ Miller properly found that Plaintiff can perform work that exists in significant numbers in the national and local economies. (R. 27-28). ALJ Miller considered Plaintiff's age, education, work experience, and RFC as well as the vocational expert's testimony. (R. 27-28). The vocational expert determined that Plaintiff was capable of satisfying the requirements of the representative occupations of a charge account clerk, a lens inserter, an order clerk, and a laminator, which exist in the aggregate of thousands of jobs locally. (R. 28). Because Plaintiff is capable of performing work that exists in significant numbers in the national and local economies, Plaintiff is not disabled under sections 216(i), 223(d), and 1614(a)(3)(A) of the Act.
Because this Court finds that ALJ Miller's decision is supported by substantial evidence in the record, the Commissioner's determination is